Donnelly

A San Bernardino County Superior Court judge continued a case against an Inland assemblyman charged with two misdemeanors for bringing a loaded gun into Ontario International Airport.

Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, did not appear at the Rancho Cucamonga court Thursday because he was in Sacramento, according to his attorney, Rod Pacheco. Pacheco, who last week said he proposed a plea deal to prosecutors, declined to comment as he left the courtroom.

Pacheco, a former district attorney for Riverside County, met with San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney John Kochis and Judge Sarah Jones in her chambers for about a half-hour before they came out and she announced that they agreed to the delay.

I note that a lot of people want to hammer Mr. Donnelly for this violation. I do not recommend letting him off without any consequences, but the punishment should fit the crime.

No matter how his critics spin it, this is not the same as a known gang member or a suspected drug trafficker being caught with a gun at the airport. His being cited and released confirms that.

As I have said before, I recommend that the prosecution look back and see what happened when former Dallas Cowboy’s coach Barry Switzer was caught at the airport with a gun he forgot about. Whatever happened to him is a good precedent for punishing Mr. Donnelly.

JWurm on
March 23rd, 2012 10:42 am

Tim has accepted responsibility for his mistake. As a constituent, I support him and want him to keep fighting for us in Sacramento.

Anonymous on
March 23rd, 2012 8:35 pm

There should be no punishment and no conviction for this alleged “violation.”

Sara Collins, republican on
March 24th, 2012 8:54 am

Donnelly needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He is supposed to be a lawmaker not a law breaker. I believe DA Ramos needs to do his job and charge him with a felony. If Donnely was black or Hispanic he would have been arrested and charged with a felony. The law should apply to everyone equally.

Anonymous on
March 24th, 2012 9:07 am

Sara Collins must be some type of kook. The normal penalty for this is summary probation and a fine. I hate to disappoint you but this activity happens at ONT all the time when people forget they have guns in luggage or briefcases, etc. They seldom are people with any criminal record.

There would be no reason to treat Donnelly any different than anyone else.

If you dont believe me, feel free to name ONE case where the penalty was different.

Jack on
March 24th, 2012 1:30 pm

He should be treated like everyone else even though the guy is a right wing nut

Anonymous on
March 24th, 2012 3:22 pm

No need for anyone to react to that Sara Collins.

Sara Collins is a planted mouth piece in order to create havoc and egg others on- in an attempt to discredit this blog and it’s bloggers.

Donnelly IS NOT a nut, he deserves our respect.

Mike on
March 26th, 2012 10:00 am

Donnelly is looney. Been out in the sun too long that’s why he forgot that he had his gun.

Anonymous on
March 27th, 2012 3:50 pm

SO NOW SARA IS “MIKE”…GIVE US A BREAK SARA AND GET LOST.

DONNELLY IS A RESPECTABLE AND INTELLIGENT MAN!

Jack on
March 29th, 2012 7:32 pm

I LOVE IT WHEN LAW AND ORDER TYPES GET BUSTED. HE’S A CROOKJUST LIKE THE PEOPLE HE THINK ARE BENEATH HI, Book ’em